#DurbanStorm has positive effect on dam levels

Rainfall from 1 October to 10 already exceeded the average according to Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Umgeni Water, Shami Harichunder.

In the Lower Mgeni system rainfall figures for 1 to 10 October were: Albert Falls 67mm; Nagle 70mm and (above) Inanda 36mm.

Coastal areas, especially the Middle South Coast, received a total of 533mm rainfall from 1 October 2017 to present, already exceeding the average rainfall for this region in October according to Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Umgeni Water,  Shami Harichunder.

“At Durban Heights and Wiggins 39mm and 42mm were recorded respectively from 1 to 10 October. The highest rainfall in the Middle South Coast, from 1 to 10 October, was received at Umzinto. It amounted to 153mm, an estimated 85mm of which fell in three hours on Tuesday, 10 October.

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“Rainfall received at other Middle South Coast stations from 1 to 10 October were: Mhlabatshane in Ugu 114mm; Mtwalume 97 mm; Cragieburn 107mm and Amanzimtoti 62mm.”

Harchunder said two of the four Middle South Coast dams – Umzinto and EJ Smith – were overflowing yesterday.

They were at 108 per cent and 117 per cent respectively. The other two dams in the region, Nungwane and Mhlabatshane, were at 83, 66 per cent and 93, 97 per cent respectively.

This means there is adequate water to meet the full needs of Ugu District Municipality for the foreseeable future.

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Staff of Umgeni Water are monitoring the situation at Umzinto and EJ Smith dams on an hourly basis in terms of Umgeni Water’s emergency procedures. At this stage there is no reason for concern. Umgeni Water will issue notification if the situation changes drastically.

Rainfall figures for Mgeni system’s sites from 1 to 10 October were: Midmar 133mm; Spring Grove 144mm and Mearns 88mm. These sites are in the Upper Mgeni system.

In the Lower Mgeni system rainfall figures for 1 to 10 October were: Albert Falls 67mm; Nagle 70mm and Inanda 36mm. Rainfall received from 1 to 10 October at Midmar, Spring Grove and Mearns has already exceeded the average for the entire month of October.

Levels of dams in the Mgeni system as at 10 October were: Mearns 74, 08 per cent, an increase of 27, 83 per cent from the past week due to rains received in its catchment. On the same day the level of Spring Grove was 76, 17 per cent (situation unchanged from a week ago); Midmar 71, 79 per cent (an increase of 1, 24 per cent from a week ago); Albert Falls 22, 63 per cent (decrease of 0, 59 per cent from a week ago); Nagle63, 95 per cent (an increase of 2, 37 per cent from a week ago) and Inanda 58 per cent (an increase of 0, 09 per cent from 3 October 2017).

SOURCE: www.highwaymail.co.za